NFL mock draft: Who Raiders, 49ers, others might take

Here is Steve Corkran's in-depth look at how the first round of the 2014 NFL draft might play out Thursday, with a bonus look at the Raiders and 49ers picks in the second round Friday:

1. Houston Texans

The pick: Jadeveon Clowney

College: South Carolina

Position: Defensive end

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/266 pounds

Comment: The Texans and first-year coach Bill O'Brien know that they can get a potentially top-flight quarterback with the 33rd pick. There isn't another player in this draft class who measures up to Clowney, so the Texans don't think twice.

2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins)

The pick: Sammy Watkins

College: Clemson

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot1/211 pounds

Comment: The Rams traded up to get speedy wide receiver Tavon Austin in the first round last year. They don't need to trade up to get Watkins, who is the kind of big-bodied receiver the Rams missed in recent seasons. Quarterback Sam Bradford is all smiles with this pick.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

The pick: Khalil Mack

College: Buffalo

Position: Linebacker

Height/weight: 6-foot-3/251 pounds

Comment: Jaguars coach Gus Bradley is a defensive-minded coach. He saw what the Seattle Seahawks, his former team, did with a stifling defense. Mack gives Bradley the kind of difference maker he needs to build around.

4. Cleveland Browns

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The pick: Johnny Manziel

College: Texas A&M

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot/207 pounds

Comment: The Browns are in sore need of a quarterback, and long-suffering Browns fans are in need of a reason to watch their team this season. Manziel is just the guy to spur the Browns' latest rebuilding movement.

5. Oakland Raiders

The pick: Greg Robinson

College: Auburn

Position: Offensive tackle

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/332 pounds

Comment: Robinson has the potential to develop into a perennial Pro Bowl player. He might not be ready to start right away, but it won't be long before he carves out a spot at left tackle and anchors the line for a long time.

6. Atlanta Falcons

The pick: Aaron Donald

College: Pittsburgh

Position: Defensive tackle

Height/weight: 6-foot-1/285 pounds

Comment: The Falcons need a ton of help on defense. That compels them to pass on several top-flight offensive tackles and wide receivers in favor of Donald, who is lightning quick and knows how to blow up the pocket on a consistent basis.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The pick: Mike Evans

College: Texas A&M

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/231 pounds

Comment: Quarterback Josh McCown gets another 6-foot-5 receiver to throw to on an every-down basis, with Evans joining No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson and running back Doug Martin in what now is a very potent offense.

8. Minnesota Vikings

The pick: Blake Bortles

College: Central Florida

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/232 pounds

Comment: The Vikings aren't sold on incumbent Christian Ponder after three seasons, as evidenced by their not picking up his fifth-year option (for 2015). Bortles can learn under Ponder in 2014 and then hit ground running next season, if not sooner.

9. Buffalo Bills

The pick: Jake Matthews

College: Texas A&M

Position: Offensive tackle

Height/weight: 6-foot-6/308 pounds

Comment: Some view Matthews as the top tackle prospect in this draft, so the Bills are thrilled to see Matthews still available. They waste little time snatching up Matthews, who is versatile enough to play on the left or right side and talented enough to start right away.

10. Detroit Lions

The pick: Taylor Lewan

College: Michigan

Position: Offensive tackle

Height/weight: 6-foot-7/307 pounds

Comment: The Lions stay in state and grab the kind of player that can keep quarterback Matthew Stafford's blindside well protected for years to come. Lewan excels at pass blocking, and the Lions offense revolves around the passing game. As a bonus, the stories of in-practice fights between Lewan and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh are going to be priceless.

11. Tennessee Titans

The pick: Justin Gilbert

College: Oklahoma State

Position: Cornerback

Height/weight: 6-foot/202 pounds

Comment: The Titans find a potential replacement for departed free agent Alterraun Verner in Gilbert, who is regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in this draft. Gilbert is so good that he starts from the outset and makes people forget about Verner in a hurry.

12. New York Giants

The pick: Zack Martin

College: Notre Dame

Position: Offensive lineman

Height/weight: 6-foot-4/308 pounds

Comment: Versatile enough to convert to tackle, strong enough to dominate against NFL defenders. Martin is rushed into service right away as a means of giving quarterback Eli Manning some much-needed help. He also can play guard and center, if needed.

13. St. Louis Rams

The pick: Kyle Fuller

College: Virginia Tech

Position: Cornerback

Height/weight: 6-foot/190 pounds

Comment: Coach Jeff Fisher addresses the need to get the kind of cornerback that can hold up against the likes of Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Larry Fitzgerald in the rugged NFC West. Fuller has the mentality to succeed, too. He doesn't back down from a challenge.

14. Chicago Bears

The pick: Anthony Barr

College: UCLA

Position: Linebacker

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/255 pounds

Comment: Some think Barr has the combination of size, speed, athleticism and instincts to have the kind of impact DeMarcus Ware had for the Dallas Cowboys for so many years. Barr isn't without flaws, but he has enough potential to make defensive coordinators salivate.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

The pick: Darqueze Dennard

College: Michigan State

Position: Cornerback

Height/weight: 5-foot-11/200 pounds

Comment: Standout player on a top-notch defense at Michigan State last season. Coach Mike Tomlin adds another player to a defense in dire need of an infusion of youth, energy and playmaking ability.

16. Dallas Cowboys

The pick: Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix

College: Alabama

Position: Free safety

Height/weight: 6-foot-1/208 pounds

Comment: Well schooled by college coach Nick Saban in what to expect from NFL offenses. Dix's arrival is a welcome sight for a Cowboys defense that was among the worst in the league last season, especially against the pass.

17. Baltimore Ravens

The pick: Calvin Pryor

College: Louisville

Position: Free safety

Height/weight: 5-foot-11/207 pounds

Comment: Pryor's arrival allows the Ravens to move Matt Elam to strong safety and shores up the back end of their defense. He plays with a physical style that the Ravens covet.

18. New York Jets

The pick: Odell Beckham Jr.

College: Louisiana State

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 5-foot-11/198 pounds

Comment: Beckham Jr. is just what the Jets anemic offense needs; a receiver with game-changing abilities. There isn't much Beckham Jr. can't do. However, he needs to bulk up a little to compensate for a lack of height and so that he can hold up against physical cornerbacks.

19. Miami Dolphins

The pick: Cyrus Kouandijo

College: Alabama

Position: Offensive tackle

Height/weight: 6-foot-7/322 pounds

Comment: The Dolphins have other glaring needs, but they are forced to go with an offensive tackle on the heels of losing left tackle Jonathan Martin last season. Kouandijo is very mobile and quick for a player his size.

20. Arizona Cardinals

The pick: Ryan Shazier

College: Ohio State

Position: Linebacker

Height/weight: 6-foot-1/237 pounds

Comment: The Cardinals lost Karlos Dansby to free agency and John Abraham is 36 this season. Adding Shazier bolsters the linebacking corps and gives the Cardinals another defensive weapon to help against physical divisional foes.

21. Green Bay Packers

The pick: Stephon Tuitt

College: Notre Dame

Position: Defensive tackle

Height/weight: 6-foot-6/304 pounds

Comment: Tuitt has the rare blend of size and quickness for an interior lineman. He is precisely the kind of presence the Packers need in the middle of a defensive line that struggled against the run the past four seasons.

22. Philadelphia Eagles

The pick: Brandin Cooks

College: Oregon State

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 5-foot-10/189 pounds

Comment: Half of coach Chip Kelly's 2013 draft class came from Pac-12 teams. He also needs a replacement for jettisoned No. 1 receiver DeSean Jackson. Cooks might get lost in some NFL offenses but not Kelly's wide-open scheme.

Comment: Verrett's lack of height is a concern to some teams, but not the Bengals. Verrett showed in college that he can be left alone in man coverage, and he isn't afraid to take chances. Neither are the Bengals.

25. San Diego Chargers

The pick: Louis Nix

College: Notre Dame

Position: Defensive tackle

Height/weight: 6-foot-2/331 pounds

Comment: The Chargers are set at both defensive end spots. Nix steps in right away and gives the defensive line a much-needed boost inside with his size and strength. This is how you improve your run defense with one good move.

26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis Colts)

The pick: Kelvin Benjamin

College: Florida State

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/235 pounds

Comment: The Browns got their quarterback at No. 4. Now they find a receiver to bookend with Josh Gordon. Wins might still be tough to come by in Cleveland for a while, but the Browns certainly are going to be more fun to watch.

27. New Orleans Saints

The pick: Davante Adams

College: Fresno State

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot-1/212 pounds

Comment: Drew Brees can make just about any receiver look like a Pro Bowl player. He won't need to do much with Adams except throw the ball in his vicinity. Adams gives the Saints explosive offense another legitimate option.

28. Carolina Panthers

The pick: Eric Ebron

College: North Carolina

Position: Tight end

Height/weight: 6-foot-4/250 pounds

Comment: The Panthers don't have to look far to find quarterback Cam Newton a safety blanket, both as a receiver and extra blocker. Ebron helps fill the offensive void created by the release of veteran wide receiver Steve Smith. He contributes right away.

29. New England Patriots

The pick: Austin Seferian-Jenkins

College: Washington

Position: Tight end

Height/weight: 6-foot-6/262 pounds

Comment: Coach Bill Belichick restocks a position that went from a strength to a question mark after Aaron Hernandez' arrest and Rob Gronkowski's latest career-threatening injury. Seferian-Jenkins should have no trouble adjusting to the NFL with a quarterback like Tom Brady, in a tight end-friendly scheme.

30. San Francisco 49ers

The pick: Bradley Roby

College: Ohio State

Position: Cornerback

Height/weight: 5-foot-11/194 pounds

Comment: The 49ers cut Carlos Rogers and let Tarell Brown walk via free agency. They need someone else to play alongside projected starters Tramaine Brock and Chris Culliver. Roby has above-average speed and the mentality to succeed at cornerback in the NFL.

31. Denver Broncos

The pick: Cody Latimer

College: Indiana

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot-3/215 pounds

Comment: The Broncos lost Eric Decker to free agency, but they signed Emmanuel Sanders as a replacement. They throw Latimer into a receiving corps that also includes Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Andre Caldwell. Somehow, Peyton Manning will find a way to keep all of them busy and happy.

32. Seattle Seahawks

The pick: Joel Bitonio

College: Nevada

Position: Offensive lineman

Height/weight: 6-foot-4/302 pounds

Comment: Versatile offensive lineman whose stock soared in the run up to the draft because of impressive workouts for teams. The Seahawks address the depth on their offensive line by snagging Bitonio. Offensive line coach Tom Cable is thrilled as much as anyone.

36. Oakland Raiders

The pick: Tom Savage

College: Pittsburgh

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-4/228 pounds

Comment: Matt Schaub might be the short-term answer for the Raiders, but the Raiders still lack a long-term, franchise-type quarterback. Savage has the size, the arm strength and the accuracy. This is a good spot for the Raiders to take the plunge and gamble on finding a quarterback for the long haul.

56. San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City Chiefs)

The pick: Jace Amaro

College: Texas Tech

Position: Tight end

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/265 pounds

Comment: Is just what the 49ers are looking for at the tight end position; an accomplished receiver who also is adept at blocking. He's already a polished receiver. The 49ers get him up to speed as a blocker in no time and give Colin Kaepernick another viable option in the passing attack.

61. San Francisco 49ers

The pick: Marcus Martin

College: USC

Position: Center

Height/weight: 6-foot-3/320 pounds

Comment: With veteran Jonathan Goodwin no longer around to anchor the offensive line, GM Trent Baalke adds Martin in hopes of there being a seamless transition. Returner Daniel Kilgore is the leading candidate to replace Goodwin in 2014. However, Martin gives the 49ers more depth and competition at a key position.